In this Coeur d'Alene Fire Department file photo, firefighters battle a winter 2005 blaze at the old 7-11 building at the northeast corner of 4th Street & Best Avenue (where Panda Express now located).

• Huckleberries: Why should the average person care whether this public safety bond passes?
• Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel: The main thing is to maintain our level of service. The days of going to just fires are long behind us. We're an all-hazard fire department, which includes EMS, a multitude of specialty teams including technical rescue, marine rescue, wildland fires, vehicle extrication and more.
• Huckleberries: What would happen if this doesn't pass?
• Tymesen: The city would look at coming back out to the voters to educate why the need is still present. If it didn't pass then, the city would have to look to acquire public safety equipment through a lease. It would take the dollars that we'd hoped to use for personnel and delay all of that. We wouldn't be able to build a station 4 (Atlas Road & Hanley Avenue).
• Huckleberries: Is the bond part of any longer-term strategic plan?
• Gabriel: The bond is part of a four-part plan. Part 1 is the bond which pays for all of the equipment needs. The second part was to secure land for a 4th fire station on the northwest part of town (which was accomplished 12 years ago). Then, the money to build the fire station is almost there as a result of an adjustment of impact fees (which come from new growth & buying into system so system can be expanded, growth paying for growing). The fourth part of this -- the toughest part, which is the most important -- is the staffing of the fire department with 9 additional firemen. We also have a plan for that.
• Tymesen: It's important to speak to the 9 staffers needed to fill the 24-hour shifts that we have. Staffing is the most expensive part. The city is looking to have additional savings in the firefighter retirement fund. That wouldn't be new income. It would be a reduction in expenses. We allocate those savings to assist with hiring the 9 firefighters.
• Huckleberries: Is there any organized opposition to the bond?
• Gabriel: It's minimal at best. One local Web site has raised a question or two. And they have been addressed by our legal staff.
• Huckleberries: Any goodies in here for the police department?
• Gabriel: We'll be building a joint building behind Station 2 (Ramsey Road & Kathleen Ave) that will include some logistical support plus room for technical staff. The police department will also add a camera network that is specific to keep surveillance on public-owned properties (including the McEuen parking structure, which was in the plan since it was built.)
• Huckleberries: What percentage of the vote to this get last time?
• Gabriel: We were in the mid-70s last time (10 years ago). It was on the same ballot as the library bond. This bond requires a two-thirds supermajority.
• Huckleberries: Isn't the money there to fund this internally?
• Tymesen: No it is not. It has been intentional to use the voter-approved bond for these large expensive assets because it's less costly to borrow money with a general obligation bond. The funding is at least comparable to the length of the asset's life. We want to check in with the voters to see how we are doing.

Also: You can find the specifics of the $6 million bond that will be presented to the voters May 19 here.

Question: Do you plan to support the $6 million bond on the May 19 ballot?